asphyxiate

American  

[as-fik-see-eyt] / æsˈfɪk siˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

asphyxiated, asphyxiating

1. to produce asphyxia in.

2. to cause to die or lose consciousness by impairing normal breathing, as by gas or other noxious agents; choke; suffocate; smother.

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verb (used without object)

asphyxiated, asphyxiating

1. to become asphyxiated.

asphyxiate British  

/ æsˈfɪksɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to cause asphyxia in or undergo asphyxia; smother; suffocate

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Other Word Forms

• asphyxiation noun
• asphyxiator noun

Etymology

Origin of asphyxiate

First recorded in 1830–40; asphyxi(a) + -ate ¹

Explanation

To asphyxiate is to keep someone from breathing — to suffocate or smother them. Choking on a piece of food can asphyxiate a person. Your body needs to breathe oxygen in order to function, and when it's deprived of oxygen that's called asphyxia or asphyxiation. If a person stops being able to breathe, you can also say they asphyxiate. The origin of this verb is asphyxia, "stopping of the pulse," in Greek, which originally had the same meaning in English, before it came to mean "suffocation."

Example Sentences

The allegations were released Thursday by Haiti’s antigovernment corruption unit, whose general director, Hans Joseph, pledged to go after those who “torpedo the public treasury and asphyxiate the country’s economic and social development efforts.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 26, 2022

Two physicians in the expert network, Dr. Karch and Dr. Theodore Chan, agreed with the coroner’s finding that Mr. Silva did not asphyxiate; Dr. Chan cited studies he had done on the subject.

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2021

Avalanche victims can asphyxiate from breathing in carbon monoxide from their own exhalation while buried beneath the snow.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2021

While white phosphorus has toxic chemical properties, it is not generally used to poison or asphyxiate, the common aim of chemical weapons.

From The Guardian • Dec. 18, 2019

Poor engine hates it—coughing and spluttering the whole way—suppose I’m lucky I didn’t asphyxiate in the exhaust.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• suffocate